You're considering independent schools for your son or daughter. You've talked to other parents, consulted your child's present teacher, attended a number of Open Days, viewed websites and read the prospectuses, but you're still no closer to making the decision. Or at least, you're not convinced that you're making the right decision.
Taster Days are not a new phenomena, but they are still relatively rare. A Taster Day allows a child to visit a school as a pupil for a whole school day during term time, (and at some schools, overnight stays are also possible), to study and play alongside the 'same year' students, who would ultimately become his or her classmates. There's probably no better way of finding out whether your child will fit in well than doing a 'trial run'. Children are able to gain an understanding of the school's ethos and routines, and, perhaps most importantly, diminish those 'first day of term' anxieties.
At Abbotsholme School, care is taken to find out as much as possible about a prospective pupil's strengths and interests beforehand, so that he or she can visit on a school day that is rich with the lessons and activities of particular interest to the child.
Overnight taster days are also possible so that students whose families are considering boarding can experience a full 24 hour visit.
Abbotsholme is a small, friendly school for day and boarding students of 5-18 years old. The school provides a modern, progressive education based on co-operation rather than competition, a compassion for others, and respect for the environment. Above all, the school is small enough, (at 330 pupils), to be able to treat each student as an individual.
Taster Days at Abbotsholme can offer your child the opportunity to be included in an actual school day, which is perhaps the most useful experience possible, when making such an important decision.